Two-Year Interview and Match Outcomes of Otolaryngology Preference Signaling

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Residency Applications
• Applicant-Program Matching

Background:

• The otolaryngology residency application process can be competitive.
• Preference signaling offers a potential tool to enhance applicant visibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare year-over-year data on preference signaling for otolaryngology residency interviews.
• To evaluate the impact of preference signaling on interview invitations and applicant success.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study analyzed data from the 2021 and 2022 otolaryngology residency application cycles.
• Applicant and program surveys assessed attitudes and outcomes related to preference signaling.

Main Results:

• Programs received a variable number of signals, with higher-ranked programs attracting more.
• Applicants were significantly more likely to receive interviews from signaled programs (2.6x), especially less competitive ones.
• Both applicants and programs generally viewed preference signaling favorably.

Conclusions:

• Preference signaling is a promising mechanism to improve applicant visibility in otolaryngology residency.
• The positive impact of signaling on interview offers is consistent across application cycles.